Trading on Friday pulled back from the lofty levels on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with a 36 percent decline in volume at a 79 percent lower the value, following activities in 58 securities down from 60 on Thursday and ending with prices of 27 rising, 16 declining and 15 ending unchanged leading the market indices to rise but fell behind the close for 2024.
The market closed with 21,163,301 shares trading for $212,963,026 down from the heavy trading on Thursday when 33,308,007 stock units crossed the market for $1,000,353,283.
Trading averaged 364,885 shares at $3,671,776 compared with 555,133 stocks at $16,672,555 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 257,074 units at $2,582,065 up from 252,150 shares at $2,532,298 on the previous day and December with an average of 967,720 stock units at $18,390,902.
Investors exchanged 8.62 million Wigton Energy shares to lead trading with for 40.7 percent of total volume followed by Carreras with 5.13 million stocks for 24.2 percent of the day’s trade. Transjamaican Highway closed with 2.13 million shares for 10.1 percent of the volume traded and Radio Jamaica with 1.04 million units for 4.9 percent of market trades.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 2,039.04 points to 386,394.19, the JSE Main Index climbed 1,440.86 points to wrap up trading at 334,219.11 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 0.79 points to finish at 69.29. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 18 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.5. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close, AS Bryden slipped $1.10 to close at $29.50 after 9,541 stocks were traded, Caribbean Cement rose $4.39 to $86.90 with 18,900 units crossing the exchange, Eppley lost 50 cents and ended at $36.50 with 276 shares changing hands. GraceKennedy sank $3.88 to end at $70.02 as 68,898 stock units passed through the market, Guardian Holdings shed $4.70 in closing at $304 with investors trading 3,299 shares, Jamaica Producers popped $3 to finish at a 52 weeks’ high of $27 with an exchange of 94,130 stock units. Kingston Properties fell 40 cents to $9.19 after trading 208,167 stocks, 
Kingston Wharves gained 91 cents to close at $33.80 after a transfer of 5,489 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy sank $4.99 and ended at $65.01 in trading just 2 stock units. Pan Jamaica rose $2.99 in closing at $56.97 with 125,100 units crossing the market, Sagicor Group advanced $2 to finish at $42 after an exchange of 180,175 shares, Scotia Group rose by 50 cents to end at $60 with investors dealing in 20,842 stock units and Wisynco Group rallied 50 cents in closing at $22.40 after an exchange of 98,586 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share rose $63 to $1,113 with 288 units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.